| CUSTOMER REVIEWS: | 5/5 - A minimalist masterpiece
I have to say one needs to have a well-developed ear to be able to appreciate such minimalism!!! A friend recently shared a quote with me and it goes like this: "Collage is the paintbrush of post-modernism". This album is a perfect example of sonic collage. When listening to "Snatch" I experience an artist who can only be honest with himself and not compromise his artistic integrity. I give it ten stars.
5/5 - Simple Brilliance
"Cook For You" may very well be the best electronic song that I have heard...Howie B proves that minimal sound can equate to brilliance
5/5 - Howie B's Finest Album, of Minimal Electronic excellence
Having never been familiar with Howie's work, I'm reviewing this with no prior reference to his previous albums. Although It's fair to say that this is something of a minimalist masterpiece, with his experiments into electronic music subtly incorporating elements such as the stripped down beat arrangement of Dj Krush's finest moment on tracks like "Cotton High", the Cut & Paste sample aesthetic of Dj Shadow on "Anniversary" that recalls the more serene / melodic moments of Shadow's "Endtroducing". While the Downbeat Electronic-Dub of "To Kiss You" recalls early `Mouse on Mars'. It's an album that takes a myriad of ideas (and Samples) and blends them together to make something resolutely Leftfield and teasingly playful. In fact it wouldn't be completely unfair to say that some of this album owes a small nod to acts such as `Coldcut, Tricky' & the Scratchy beat arrangements of `Portishead', but you'll find the artists that immediately springs to mind with his album are both "Dj Spooky's" selection of Ambient Breaks & Atmospheric sampling, along with the Quirky Electronica of "'Wagon Christ', in that some tracks seemingly combine a rare fusion of crisp Jazz, IDM soundscapes, coupled with easy-listening instrumental Hip-Hop.
Although It must be noted that this is no weak pastiche of other albums, as Howie B slows the tempo down and reigns back on the quirkiness and layers this with elegant strings and Synth sections with some sublime production lifting him out of the many excellent Trip-Hop / Electronica albums out there, and to comfortably rub shoulders with the likes of `Mouse on Mars, Wagon Christ, Dj Krush, Dj Spooky'. If you really want to enjoy this album's true potential then stick it on very late at night, with minimal distractions & enjoy a decidedly abstract Electronic masterpiece. |
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Saturday, November 28, 2009
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